NFL Week 13 fantasy start/sit: Make these moves before TNF

The Seattle Seahawks have a bad fantasy matchup against the Dallas Cowboys this week

With the New York Jets’ season all but on ice, fans can focus more fully on fantasy football. As the fantasy playoffs draw nearer, start/sit decisions become more critical than ever. Many important players are on a bye this week, creating extra pressure to select between a backup or streaming option with a good matchup.

Here are your best starts and sits for Week 13 for PPR leagues (opponent’s fantasy rank against the position in parentheses).

Quarterbacks

Start ’em

• Tua Tagovailoa (@ WAS, 32nd): While Tua is generally a weekly start, this is a particularly great matchup. The Commanders’ cornerbacks are among the NFL’s worst.
• Brock Purdy (@ PHI, 30th): This is a battle of what could have been in the NFC Championship Game last year. This is not your 2022 Eagles defense, though.

Sit ’em

• Matthew Stafford (vs. CLE, 2nd): Matthew Stafford had a breakout game in fantasy last week, scoring 24.36 points. However, he had never exceeded 17.2 points in nine prior games. His nine interceptions are tied for the eighth-most among quarterbacks, while his 13 touchdowns rank 17th. That’s not a great ratio, and he’s playing against one of the best defenses in the NFL. Choose a different streaming option.
• Baker Mayfield (vs. CAR, 6th): Mayfield has put up back-to-back fantasy duds, hurt largely by two interceptions, three fumbles, and two fumbles lost. He’s also had just 5.9 yards per attempt in those games, limiting his production even on 75 pass attempts. Against a defense that does well against quarterbacks, I would stay away.
• Justin Herbert (@ NE, 9th): The Patriots still allow the ninth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks despite a spotty pass defense. That’s partially because they’re tied for the ninth-fewest touchdown allowed per game (1.2). Although Herbert has had many strong fantasy performances this season, I would stray away from him if you have an option with a better matchup.

Running backs

Start ’em

• Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier (@ NYJ, 27th): The Jets are in retrograde at the moment, and their run defense has been spotty for most of the season. The Falcons are one of the best run-blocking teams in the NFL. The Jets also struggle to cover running backs out of the backfield. This is a really good matchup for Robinson and Allgeier.
• Rachaad White (vs. CAR, 30th): White’s 13-point performance against the Colts last week was his worst since Week 6. After an uneven start, White has become a reliable fantasy back primarily because of some heavy usage in the passing game. Even though he has struggled on the ground, Carolina leaks points against running backs. This is a solid start.
• Rhamondre Stevenson (vs. LAC, 25th): The Patriots’ anemic offense runs through Stevenson at this point. After a very poor start to the season, Stevenson is back in play as an RB2, posting at least 13 fantasy points in five of his last six games (including four of at least 18 points). Stevenson is usually good for several receptions a game, which keeps his floor pretty high despite New England’s lackluster output.
• Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren (vs. ARI, 31st): There have been several weeks recently where both backs put together solid efforts. Harris gets more carries than Warren, but Warren has been more explosive and more of a threat in the passing game. Harris had the better week last week, but Arizona ranks 31st against running backs.
• Zack Moss (@ TEN, 13th): Even though Tennessee has been mostly average against running backs, I like Moss in this game with Jonathan Taylor out. Moss was one of the top fantasy backs in football before Taylor returned, and Taylor picked up where Moss left off. I don’t expect much to change even in an average matchup.

Sit ’em

• Zach Charbonnet (@ DAL, 3rd): Kenneth Walker is doubtful for the game, which means Charbonnet will likely get his second consecutive start. He was disappointing against the Rams last week and now faces a stingy Dallas defense. Stay away.
• D’Andre Swift (vs. SF, 5th): Once again, it’s the 49ers’ defense. Swift has been inconsistent recently.
• James Conner (@ PIT, 17th): Conner has been below average since he returned. Even though he’s facing his old team, the Cardinals’ poor defense could force Kyler Murray to pass. Murray’s rushing also often takes away from Conner’s output. It’s not a great week for Conner.

Wide receivers

Start ’em

• Michael Pittman (@ TEN, 24th): Pittman has been a clear WR1 in fantasy this season. He has just one game with fewer than 10 points, and he’s scored at least 16 points seven times. He may not have the ceiling of some of the other WR1s, but his excellent floor makes him a good weekly start. Tennessee’s poor coverage adds to the appeal.
• Terry McLaurin (vs. MIA, 18th): With Miami’s high-flying offense and Washington’s terrible coverage, there’s a good chance this game will force many Sam Howell pass attempts. McLaurin is his top target. Jalen Ramsey may not be the best matchup, but McLaurin will probably have significant volume, even if it’s underneath.
• Adam Thielen (@ TB, 27th): Thielen has slowed down after a red-hot start to the season. Bryce Young’s struggles limit Thielen’s ceiling. Still, Tampa’s defense is poor enough that I’d give Thielen a start this week.
• Brandon Aiyuk (@ PHI, 32nd): This is the worst defense in the league against receivers, and Aiyuk has been the 49ers’ best fantasy receiver. Deebo Samuel always has potential but has been a bust multiple times this season.

Sit ’em

• Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua (vs. CLE, 2nd): Cleveland’s defense is just never a good bet for receivers.
• Mike Evans (vs. CAR, 4th): Carolina’s pass defense against receivers is pretty solid.
• Drake London (@ NYJ, 1st): This is going to be an extremely run-heavy game for Atlanta, and London lines up in Sauce Gardner territory more often than not.
• Garrett Wilson (vs. ATL, 9th): With Tim Boyle starting and no other viable receiving options, Wilson is a risky start every week. Against Atlanta’s pass defense, it’s not a good idea.
• Seattle receivers (@ DAL, 3rd): This is about the Cowboys’ coverage. Additionally, the Seattle receivers have rarely put up good weeks together, making each one risky.

Tight ends

Start ’em

• Taysom Hill (vs. DET, 29th): With Michael Thomas on injured reserve and both Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed nursing injuries, Hill seems like an excellent play this week. It helps that Detroit doesn’t cover tight ends well in fantasy.
• Evan Engram (vs. CIN, 30th): Good tight end, good matchup.
• Dalton Schultz (vs. DEN, 32nd): Great pass offense, terrible tight end coverage.

Sit ’em

• Tucker Kraft (vs. KC, 5th): The Chiefs rank first in the NFL in red zone fantasy points allowed to tight ends. Even with Luke Musgrave on injured reserve, Kraft saw all of two targets last week, catching both for just 15 yards. It was a touchdown reception that helped him put in a decent performance, but that’s unlikely to be the case against Kansas City.
• Gerald Everett (@ NE, 3rd): Everett scored a touchdown en route to a 14.30-point performance last week, but New England’s defense is strong against tight ends.
• Tyler Higbee (vs. CLE, 1st): Higbee suddenly broke out last week with two touchdowns and nearly 20 fantasy points, but he’s facing the No. 1 defense in the NFL. Don’t buy one game.

Kickers

Start ’em

• Cameron Dicker (@ NE, 25th): The Patriots allow the eighth-most fantasy points to kickers, which is surprising considering that they’ve faced the 11th-fewest field goal attempts per game. Still, they rank 22nd with 22.5 points allowed per game, and that has benefited kickers.
• Younghoe Koo (@ NYJ, 31st): The Jets’ defense has struggled mightily in recent games, but even then they gave up four field goals. They rank dead-last in the NFL with 2.9 field goal attempts given up per game. Koo has been a below-average fantasy kicker this year, but with Atlanta’s running game set to post big numbers against the Jets, many kicks could be in play.

Sit ’em

• Jason Myers (@ DAL, 2nd): Myers has had his moments in recent weeks, at least fantasy-wise, but points may be at a premium for the Seahawks in Dallas.
• Evan McPherson (@ JAX, 4th): Cincinnati’s offense has a cap with Jake Browning, making McPherson less of a play.

Defenses

Start ’em

• Atlanta Falcons (@ NYJ, 31st): the Jets’ offense is in retrograde. Tim Boyle is the starting quarterback, and Xavier Gipson is essentially the second receiver. The offensive line is a turnstile. Take any defense playing against the Jets.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. CAR, 28th): Young’s struggles make opposing defenses appealing.
• Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. CIN, 13th): With Browning under center, the Bengals’ offense is not in great shape.
• Los Angeles Chargers (@ NE, 28th): New England’s offense is a wreck right now.
• Los Angeles Rams (vs. CLE, 27th): Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson is in the concussion protocol, which means Cleveland may end up starting old Jets faithful Joe Flacco this week while still without Jedrick Wills.

Sit ’em

• Denver Broncos (@ HOU, 5th): Houston’s offense is never a good play for opposing defenses.
• Seattle Seahawks (@ DAL, 1st): Dak Prescott has thrown 17 touchdown passes in his last five games.
• Philadelphia Eagles (vs. SF, 2nd): The 49ers’ defense allows the fewest points per game in the NFL (15.5), ranks ninth in sacks per game (3), and is tied for the second-most takeaways.

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